Arsenal have made a ‘lucrative offer’ to sign a Borussia Dortmund midfielder, according to reports from Germany.
The player Arsenal have allegedly made a bid for is Henrikh Mkhitaryan, a creative winger or attacking midfielder from Borussia Dortmund. The reports come from German media outlet Bild, who say Arsenal are one of the clubs to have made a lucrative offer.
Mkhitaryan has just 12 months remaining on his current contract and negotiations over a new deal have stalled.
The 27-year-old has excelled under new coach Thomas Tuchel, scoring 11 goals and assisting 15 more this season. He has predominantly played on the right wing, although he is also capable of playing on the left, or as a central attacking midfielder. Mkhitaryan is extremely efficient in the final third and that is certainly something Arsenal want to improve upon. Their current wingers have not been scoring or assisting enough goals and Mkhitaryan would add plenty of goals and assists and also pace to an often lethargic looking front three.
The Armenian midfielders agent Mino Raiola is now talking up a move away, with the German club looking like they will refuse the players demands to include a release clause that would become active should coach Thomas Tuchel leave.
Mkhitaryan is a very strong dribbler with experience of performing at a high level in a very good league. This, and his experience in European tournaments can only bode well for him integrating into an Arsenal team hoping to compete at both domestic and European levels next season.
It is possible that all of this is agent talk, with Raiola looking for a new and improved deal for his client. The player is keen to stay and work under Tuchel, but should Arsenal make a good enough offer, he may be tempted to move to England.